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Friday, November 9, 2012

RAY NEGRON TAKES CHARGE JUST LIKE STEINBRENNER DID BEFORE HIM

In the days after 9/11, the Yankees came out with a sweatshirt and
t-shirt design that featured the red, white and blue interlocking NY
with the words “Stand Tall” beneath. I have been wearing mine a lot in
the past few days, still in pristine condition. My very favorite piece
of Yankee apparel ever. The words have as much meaning in the wake of
Hurricane Sandy as they did following the terrible losses that September
more than 11 years ago.

If there has been anyone who has embodied those words in the days after
this devastating superstorm, it has been Yankee Special Advisor for
Community Outreach, Ray Negron. My first phone call from Ray came quite
literally at the height of the storm. He was with his family in Suffolk
County and without power. His first question was about my own family.
Then, he asked me what we could do for others.

It wasn’t a long call—he was worried about his cell phone dying—but I
knew then that Ray was already at work. I could literally hear those
wheels spinning. I am honored to say that I knew Ray before George
Steinbrenner caught him tagging the stadium, and I am proud to call him
my unofficial brother. I am also proud to be on his team.

On the
dedication page for Yankee Miracles, he names me for helping him change
the world. Most of you know me as Persiphone Hellecat, but to Ray, I am
just Deni La Marr.

We have talked many times in the days since the storm at great length.
We have discussed many different ways that we can help. The kids from
his baseball team Hank’s Yanks spent a large part of the weekend
visiting shelters, soup kitchens and food banks. Both mine and Ray’s
Facebook pages are filled with every piece of information that we have
heard. Both of our phone lines have been burning up as we have reached
out to others.

Ray has spent many a day sitting here telling me stories about The Boss.
Over and over, he has repeated the words of Mr. Steinbrenner regarding
helping others. “Ray,” he often said, “if more than two people know what
you are doing, that’s too many.”

However, there are times when you have to put those words aside and let
the whole world know what you are doing to help. In the wake of this
terrible storm, this is one such time. Many people need to band together
to help the thousands in need. In short, Ray believed that another
Yankee Miracle was in order.

(In Photo: Chazz Palminteri)
After speaking to some of his special friends, three of them have come
forward to help make a dream come true. José Feliciano, Raúl Ibañez and
Chazz Palminteri have reached out to the victims of Hurricane Sandy and
are helping Ray to plan and produce a benefit concert to raise much
needed funds. Each of them will be appearing at the benefit, and several
additional acts will be announced in the days to come.

The concert will be held at CW Post College at the Tilles Center on
November 29th at 7:30pm. Ray will be there hosting as well as signing
copies of Yankee Miracles. All proceeds from sales of the book will go
to the American Red Cross. Other charities will benefit from the concert
as well.

Please follow Ray on Facebook HERE or on Twitter @YankeeMiracles for new information as it becomes available.

(In Photo: Reggie Jackson with Ray Negron)

Whenever Ray would tell The Boss that he saved him from the streets, The
Boss would say “No, Ray, your story was already written that day when I
caught you.” This is just another part of that story. Help Ray Negron
reach out to the community and create some new Yankee Miracles. Save the
date and join him at the Tilles Center for a night of music, love and
miracles.

-- Persiphone Hellecat, Guest BYB Writer

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